FILE – West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice speaks at an election party at the Governor’s Mansion in Charleston, West Virginia, May 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris Jackson, File)

CHARLESTON – Governor Jim Justice continued to describe the upcoming auction of the Greenbrier Resort as politically motivated and said the foreclosure on the historic property “It’s almost like blackmail” during his online briefing on Friday. After a briefing that touched on topics ranging from the death of a Taylor County coal miner to the release of the state’s first fall foliage forecast map this season, Justice answered a reporter’s question about the luxury resort’s auction scheduled for Aug. 27. After a lawyer representing Justice’s family and business said last week the resort would not be sold, the governor said Friday he believes “I firmly believe it will be solved.”
Justice is in the final year of his second and final term as governor and is running as the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate seat held by retiring Rep. Joe Manchin, IW.Va. He said that campaign is the reason the JP Morgan Chase loan to Beltway Capital Management was sold and foreclosed.
“This is all about Jim Justice being the one who flips the U.S. Senate” to a Republican majority, he said. “This borders on blackmail.”
A Beltway representative could not immediately be reached for comment Friday afternoon. McCormick 101, which is affiliated with Beltway, filed suit in New York State Supreme Court on July 18, seeking $40.3 million from Justice and his companies. Justice and his representatives have said the original loan of about $142 million was reduced to $9.4 million. The auction of the White Sulphur Springs-based resort, which Justice bought out of bankruptcy in 2009, was announced in a recent attorney’s notice published in the West Virginia Daily News in Lewisburg. Justice’s daughter, Dr. Jill Justice, has run the resort since he took office in 2017, though he is still listed as CEO. During Friday’s briefing, Justice praised the work of his daughter and son, Jay, in overseeing the family businesses, but said his experience in this and other situations might have made a difference.
“I am your governor, and that is my first and most important responsibility. If I had been in office the whole time, I might have been able to make things a little better or a little easier, just based on my experience and knowledge,” he said. Justice also answered questions about a possible special session of the legislature to discuss his proposals to cut income tax rates by 5% and a child care tax credit. The governor did not confirm whether he would call a special session when legislators meet later this month to make interim decisions, but said he still wants both bills to pass.
“Inflation is eating everyone’s lunch” he said about possible tax relief. “We can afford it.”
Justice said he also wants to leave the state financially sound when he leaves office. While he said he was open to discussions about a larger cut, “I really want to take care of the store first and foremost.”
Justice expressed his condolences on the death of 57-year-old Fairmont miner Joe Crandall on Thursday, the third fatal mining accident in the state this year. He called Crandall a hero who died “I try to make your life and my life better” and criticized those who advocate for an end to coal mining.
“This nation wants to get rid of these people, get rid of this industry…”, he said. “Whether it’s the administration (of President Joe) Biden or the administration (of Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala) Harris, it’s a crying, pathetic disgrace.”
Another reporter asked about a recent motion by a U.S. attorney in Virginia to hold Justice-owned companies in contempt of court for failing to pay civil penalties from the Mine Safety and Health Administration, as well as the general state of his family businesses. Justice said it was difficult to hear the entire question due to relationship issues, but stressed that he was less involved with the companies and said the issues were being addressed.
“We may arrive a few minutes late to the fire, but we are always there when there is a fire,” he said.
Evan Bevins can be reached at [email protected]